We shall see. I will give you a case in point. I had a folder from a very well known mastersmith and production knife maker. I used his folder found a few flaws during use in the field and due to my feedback he made some changes to the knife. And was glad to have the feedback. You never know till try. There knife makers not gods they make mistakes or over look things too it happens. I'm not saying I know better than them if I did I would make knives not buy them. But I do have years of experience with all forms of knives from cheap to Ed Fowler fixed and folders. I use my knives hard at work and hunting fishing and camping. I don't spare them no matter what they cost there a tool and I use them. I love knives and messing with them is part of the fun for me. What if I come back and say wow that is slick and works great would you try it for $1.50. Chris reeves seems to like them I would put Mr. Reeves as a guy who knows a thing or two as well. Just saying don't count it out just because its the way it is and has been.
I don't have a RHK yet! FWIW. I do have an extensive background, dealing with materials and their applications. Teflon or open race bearing as pivot bushing material is all fine, as long as it does not exposed to abrasive grits. Teflon or open race bearing, once contaminated with abrasive grits, often suffer irreversible damages. Bearing bronze is infinitely more superior in this arena - proven time and time again in machinery & tool designs - it was a purpose driven, engineered alloy to fill the niche as bearing material due to demand. However, it is infinitely easier to use an arch punch tool to punch out a set of teflon bushing from a sheet of teflon, already is dimensionally correct. Verse machine and part-off a dimensionally correct thin bushing, off a bronze bar stock, then lap to ensure it is dimensionally - parallel.
I do agree with your assessment on Mr. Reeves. Not too many knife makers out there did a 15 years stint as a Tool & Die maker. As well as continuously, coming out with machine/tool designs, to fill his knife making needs. I have a deep respect for the trade - since I am one myself in my past life - 39 years with full Nuclear Qualifications - just leave it at that. When someone raised the question - if you are such and such: why don't you make a knife yourself? Well, as for myself, my area of interest in in motorsports - that is where my main interest is focused and where I applied my trade skills with deep passion. But I do have a wide variety of luke warms, such as interest with knife - especially in the area of precision with emphasis on simplicity. When curiosity gets to me and want to judge for myself, I simply buy one to see once and for all. I have heard good things about CRk as well as RHK, we all know it is rather difficult to get one RHK along with a reasonable OTC price - so I wait - pending my judgement. CRK on the other hand, buying one is simplistic and all without drama. My verdict on CRK is all it claims and more after owning one.
A few extreme hard used tools I made, configured by hand, from three corners and blade shaped files - in the beginning and used throughout my 39 year journey in my trade career:
My modified, flame anodized Wannabe, looking pretty, hanging with the Hard Used Bunch
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Bottom line, basing on forum postings, that as an indicator - for most RHK owner, teflon bushings are a non issue.
